Taste of Sodium Chloride Solutions after Adaptation to Sodium Chloride: Implications for the "Water Taste"

After adaptation of the human tongue to sodium chloride solutions, subjects reported the taste quality of sodium chloride solutions both above and below the adapting concentration. The adapting solutions became tasteless; solutions weaker than the adapting concentration tasted sour or bitter, and stronger solutions were reported as sweet or salty. The taste of both water and sodium chloride solutions is specific depending on prior adaptation.